Honors and Accolades Walter Camp Award The Walter Camp Football Foundation annually presents an award to the nation's outstanding college football player. The player-of-the-year award has been presented since 1967 in conjunction with the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America team. The award is named after Walter Camp, “The Father of American Football” who became Yale’s first head football coach in 1888. Four Notre Dame football players have received the Walter Camp Award:
1977 1987 1990 2012
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Ken MacAfee Tim Brown Raghib Ismail Manti Te’o
Maxwell Award The Maxwell Football Club of Philadelphia annually presents the Maxwell Award to the college player of the year. Presented since 1937 the award is named after Robert W. ‘‘Tiny’’ Maxwell, a Philadelphia native and former All-America guard at Swarthmore and Chicago who went on to a career that included professional football, coaching and sports-writing. Six Notre Dame players have won the award:
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Leon Hart John Lattner John Lattner Jim Lynch Ross Browner Brady Quinn Manti Te’o
Quinn also was a finalist in 2005. Bednarik Award The Bednarik Award has been presented annually since 1995 to the college defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club in Philadelphia. The award is named after former University of Pennsylvania All-America (1947-48) and NFL Philadelphia Eagle center Chuck Bednarik, a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Notre Dame has produced one Bednarik Award winner: 2012
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Manti Te’o
Biletnikoff Award The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., is the creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award. It has been presented annually since 1994 to the nation’s top collegiate pass receiver. The award is named after Fred Biletnikoff, a former Florida State All-America receiver and NFL Oakland Raiders standout. Notre Dame has had one winner of the Biletnikoff Award: 2009
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Golden Tate
Notre Dame finalists have included Jeff Samardzija in 2005 and 2006 and Michael Floyd in 2010 and 2011. Derrick Mayes was named a semifinalist for the award in 1994 and 1995. Butkus Award The Butkus Award has been presented annually since 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando (Fla.) to the nation’s best collegiate linebacker. The award is named after former linebacker Dick Butkus, a two-time consensus All-American at Illinois and a six-time all-pro selection with the Chicago Bears. One Notre Dame player has won the award: 2012
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Manti Te’o
Michael Stonebreaker finished third in the voting in 1988 and 1990. Courtney Watson was one of three finalists for the award in 2002.
Rotary Lombardi Award The Rotary Club of Houston since 1970 has annually presented the Lombardi Award to the college lineman or linebacker of the year. The award is presented to the player who best combines athletic performance with the discipline of Vince Lombardi, the former Green Bay Packer coach and a member of Fordham’s “Seven Blocks of Granite” from the 1930s. Five Notre Dame football players have received the granite block trophy:
Since the inception of the award in 1946, four Notre Dame football players have been honored:
Unitas Golden Arm Award The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is presented by the Frank Camp Chapter of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation. Formerly presented by the Kentucky chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame beginning in 1987 it annually honors the nation’s top senior quarterback. The award is named after former Kentucky standout and NFL Baltimore Colt quarterback Johnny Unitas. Two Notre Dame signal-callers have won the award:
1971 1977 1990 1993 2012
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Walt Patulski Ross Browner Chris Zorich Aaron Taylor Manti Te’o
Notre Dame players voted finalists for the award include offensive guard Larry DiNardo in 1970, defensive tackle Steve Niehaus in 1975, Browner in 1976, tight end Ken MacAfee in 1977, linebacker Bob Crable in 1981, Zorich in 1989 and Taylor in 1992. Lott Trophy The Ronnie Lott Trophy has been presented annually since 2004 to the IMPACT defensive player of the year by the Pacific Club of Newport Beach, Calif. The award goes to the defensive player who has had the biggest impact on his team, both on and off the field. The IMPACT acronym stands for integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity. The award is named for the former USC and NFL San Francisco 49ers all-star defensive back. Notre Dame has produced one Lott Trophy winner: 2012
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Manti Te’o
Te’o was selected a finalist for the 2011 award. Mackey Award The John Mackey Award has been presented annually since 2000 by the Nassau County (N.Y) Sports Commission to the nation’s outstanding tight end. The award is named after former Syracuse star John Mackey, the first tight end named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after his 10-year career with the NFL Baltimore Colts. Notre Dame has produced one winner of the Mackey Award: 2012
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Tyler Eifert
Eifert was a finalist in 2011, as were Anthony Fasano in 2005 and John Carlson in 2006. Nagurski Trophy The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been presented annually since 1993 to the nation’s outstanding defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte (N.C.) Touchdown Club. It is named in honor of Bronko Nagurski, the former Minnesota AllAmerica tackle and running back and NFL Chicago Bears standout. He is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Notre Dame has had one winner of the Nagurski Trophy: 2012
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Manti Te'o
Notre Dame’s Shane Walton was a 2002 finalist. Outland Trophy The Outland Trophy is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding interior lineman (guard, tackle or center) on either offense or defense in collegiate football by the Football Writers Association of America, with representation from the Greater Omaha (Neb.) Sports Committee. The award is named for a former Kansas City surgeon and University of Pennsylvania All-America lineman from 1897, Dr. John H. Outland, who felt linemen did not receive the recognition they deserved.
1946 1948 1976 2012
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George Connor Bill Fischer Ross Browner Manti Te’o
Notre Dame finalists for the award include Aaron Taylor in 1993.
1989 2006
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Tony Rice Brady Quinn
Rick Mirer was selected as a finalist for the award in 1992. Other Awards Here’s where Notre Dame football players have been mentioned for other awards: • Paul Hornung is the lone Notre Dame player to capture the Chic Harley Award, presented since 1955 by the Touchdown Club of Columbus to the college football player of the year. • Placekicker Kevin Pendergast in 1993 was one of eight semifinalists for the second annual Lou Groza Award. Presented by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and named for the Ohio State and Cleveland Browns Hall of Famer, it honors the nation’s most instrumental placekicker. David Ruffer was a finalist in 2010. • The Davey O’Brien Award, presented since 1977 by the Fort Worth Club to the top quarterback in the country, has featured three Notre Dame finalists--Tony Rice in 1988 and 1989, Rick Mirer in 1992 and Brady Quinn in 2005 and 2006. The award is named after former TCU star Davey O’Brien. • Cornerback Bobby Taylor was one of three finalists for the 1993 Jim Thorpe Award, presented since 1988 by the Jim Thorpe Association of Oklahoma City to the top defensive back in the nation. The award is named after former Carlisle standout Jim Thorpe, a native Oklahoma Indian. Irish cornerback Todd Lyght was one of three finalists in 1989. • The first Irish player to finish as a finalist for the Doak Walker National Running Back Award was tailback Reggie Brooks in 1992. The Doak Walker Award, presented first in 1990 by the SMU Athletic Forum, is given to the nation’s top running back. Tailback Lee Becton was one of eight semifinalists in 1993. The award is named after SMU’s 1948 Heisman Trophy winner. • In 2002, Irish center Jeff Faine was the first Notre Dame player named a finalist for the Rimington Award, given to the nation’s outstanding center. Faine was runner-up to Miami’s Brett Romberg for the honor. Braxston Cave was a finalist in 2012 as well. • Cornerback Allen Rossum was a finalist in 1998 for the Mosi Tatupu Special Teams Award. The award was presented through 2006 by the Bowl Games of Hawaii, in conjunction with the Quarterback Clubs of Honolulu and Maui. • Linebacker Brandon Hoyte in 2005 was a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy presented by the Fort Walton Beach (Fla.) All Sports Association. Named after former Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel, the award goes to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. • Cornerback Bobby Taylor (1994) captured the Jack Tatum Trophy, presented to the top collegiate defensive back by the Touchdown Club of Columbus. • Offensive Lineman Aaron Taylor (1993) captured the Jim Parker Trophy, presented to the top collegiate offensive lineman by the Touchdown Club of Columbus. • Bob Dove (1942), Bill Fischer (1948), Leon Hart (1949), Jim Lynch (1966) and Chris Zorich (1989) all captured the Knute Rockne Lineman of the Year Award, presented by the Touchdown Club of Washington to the top collegiate lineman.
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